Improvement in the clasps of carpet-bags



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES SELLERS AND ABRAHAM L. PENNocK, oE PHILADELPHIA, PENN- SYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE CLA-SPS OF CARPET-BAGS.

Speciiication forming part of Letters Patent No. l ,620, dated May 25, i840.

To all wtom/ it may concern.-

stead ot' forming it of iron, steel, or other metal, as has heretofore been done.

Figures l and 2 in the accom panying drawings represent the said clasp as attached to a bag, Fig. l showing it as closed and Fig. 2 as open.

In constructing our clasp we take a pieceA of ash, hickory, or any other kind of Wood adapted to the purpose, said pieces of wood being' of such length,width, and thickness as may be necessary and suited to the size and kind of bag to which itr is to be attached. This piece of wood we boil or steam, so as to enable us to bend it into the form suitable for a clasp, and confine it upon or within a mold for such length of time as may be necessary to cause it to set and retain its for1n a process Well known to workmen. To convert the wood so bent into a clasp we cut it through longitudinally, so as to form thc two sides of the clasp. We sometimes thus divide it through its Awhole extent;vbut in general we cut it to Within an inch or two of each end and then divide one Side from the other by making a transverse cut from one side to the longitudinal cut first made.

The two parts of the clasp, as shown in the drawings, are represented with one face and edge covered with leather nailed thereon, as at a a a.

- In Fig. 2 the sides ot' the clasp t) b show the wood; c c, the transverse cut where the two parts are hinged together when they are divided in that way. d CZ show the form of a hvasp and eyes, by the aid of which the bag may be locked up.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The constructing of a clasp composed entirely of Wood, and the adapting the saine to and combining it with bags for the conveyance of letters, traveling-bags, or valises, and Such others to which it may he adapted, the said clasps being connected together by hinges of metal, by links, or by any flexible material which may be preferred.

JAMES SELLERS. ABM. L. PENNOOK. Vitnesses:

SAML. H. TRoTTER, SAMUEL HUTCHINSON. 

